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assuming you are talking about standard drop bars with an aero profile, rather than full-on aero bars, in a review that zipp references on its website it says c. 5w saving with vukasprint bars

for wheels, zipp usually quotes based on riding at 300w at 48km/hr

presumably the 5w came from zipp and is based on a similar screnario, so if you ride fast for a long time, there'll be some benefit, but it's not huge

the blurb for easton aero ones seems to say the aero benefit comes from changed rider position, i can't see the bars themselves beating the zipp ones for drag

fwiw after finding lighter bars/stem too flexy (deda newton bars, zero 100 stem), i accepted that i needed to go heavier if wanted stiff, experimented and in the end i got a cinelli ram2 integrated, the extra weight was well worth it, no flex at all

now some say the zero 100 is a stiff stem, but of course it depends on your weight, power, riding style etc., if you do put a lot of oomph through the bars on hard climbs or sprints then it's something to consider

Please excuse my thread-jacking, but does anyone have some numbers for watt savings with dropbars and aero clip-ons/extensions vs actual flat TT bar, when riding in the same position on the extensions? Ie, how much will the un-used drops with STI's/brifters hold one back, compared to wing shaped TT basebar with just aero brake levers?

clarkson wrote:I genuinely think the fastest one is whichever is most comfortable for you. If the bar can keep you in a good position over the course of a ride, you'll almost certainly earn back that 5w savings.

If all are equal on comfort, then go for aero or lightest or stiffest as your priorities dictate.

clarkson wrote:I genuinely think the fastest one is whichever is most comfortable for you. If the bar can keep you in a good position over the course of a ride, you'll almost certainly earn back that 5w savings.

If all are equal on comfort, then go for aero or lightest or stiffest as your priorities dictate.

DMF wrote:Please excuse my thread-jacking, but does anyone have some numbers for watt savings with dropbars and aero clip-ons/extensions vs actual flat TT bar, when riding in the same position on the extensions? Ie, how much will the un-used drops with STI's/brifters hold one back, compared to wing shaped TT basebar with just aero brake levers?

Numbers in the order of about 30-40w, depends how narrow you are and how good the aerobar is too! Its quite a lot of tubing/sti sticking out in the wind.

Holy cow! I would have figured it'd be closer to one third of that, tops.... The TT-bars are going on the roadbike ASAP. Rarely use the drops since I got the extensions anyway. Having to reach for the shifters when on the "hoods" seems very minor compared to 30+ watts when on the gas...

DMF wrote:Please excuse my thread-jacking, but does anyone have some numbers for watt savings with dropbars and aero clip-ons/extensions vs actual flat TT bar, when riding in the same position on the extensions? Ie, how much will the un-used drops with STI's/brifters hold one back, compared to wing shaped TT basebar with just aero brake levers?

Numbers in the order of about 30-40w, depends how narrow you are and how good the aerobar is too! Its quite a lot of tubing/sti sticking out in the wind.

I can't believe the drops will generate 30-40W of drag ... e.g. 1/8th of the threshold power of a decent amateur ?

DMF wrote:Please excuse my thread-jacking, but does anyone have some numbers for watt savings with dropbars and aero clip-ons/extensions vs actual flat TT bar, when riding in the same position on the extensions? Ie, how much will the un-used drops with STI's/brifters hold one back, compared to wing shaped TT basebar with just aero brake levers?

Numbers in the order of about 30-40w, depends how narrow you are and how good the aerobar is too! Its quite a lot of tubing/sti sticking out in the wind.

That sounds high to me. Of course it depends on speed.

For instance, going from a Specialized Tarmac with clipons on a handlebar to a Specialized Transition with a tt setup and otherwise the same variable you get a 20 watt advantage and that is divided up between the frameset, position and then the better aerobar:http://www.bikeradar.com/gear/article/h ... ero-19273/